Boat Review: Princess V53

Presentation
Presenting itself in the mid nineties, Princesses open and hard top V series models has been a non stop growing success for the British builder. The V53 presented in the year 2006 has been another winner for the range offering with it a good performance together with a luxurious interior and sleek exteriors but always keeping the conservative Princess look to the overall package. The V53 is an integrated hardtop only model, with a sunroof opening in a few seconds to the sun or closing for the shade or rain protection.
Accommodation
The accommodation for the Princess V53 is all about spacious spaces giving in all this more then one would imagine in a sixteen metre size. What you will like and not find on other open hard top boats is the c-shaped settee to fore port side on the cockpit deck. Other valid points is the spacious saloon settee with galley opposite feeling ultra large. The aft deck welcomes you on board with a spacious sun lounger, housing under it a well sized tender garage. Going more to fore you find a spacious c-shaped settee, with wet bar opposite, the unusual but much appreciated six person c-shaped settee to port, and a dual seated helm station to starboard.

Below deck is the three double cabins along with the galley and saloon. An area which is very spacious is surely the galley and saloon. The three cabins have all a different plan and layout, with the smaller third bunk cabin disappointing a few viewers but still feeling more spacious to what it actually is. The cabins are located in this manner, double owners with en suite to fore, twin single berth to starboard midships, third cabin with bunks to port, and a guest or day head.

Performance
The engine options for the V53 are all Volvo D12 engines starting from smaller 675hp, more performing 715hp units, and the bigger D12-800 775hp. The 675hp should give a max of 33 knots, 715hp gets you to 35 knots, and the bigger engine choice gives you a wide open throttle of 37 knots. Princess continue with the tried and tested Bernard Olesinski modified vee hull, now used for over two decades by the British builder. Olesinski's hull are all about a deep vee entrance forward section and a moderate dead rise aft of eighteen degrees. Princess also used mold tunnel propellers for reduced shaft angle and cleaner propeller water stream. Propeller pockets give a performance advantage over traditional shaft method although a perfect engine position and weight distribution is also important in order not to have the effect of a high bow ride with a lot of dragging aft.

Positive

second dining c-shaped settee in cockpit

spacious galley
Negative

bunk third cabin
Competition
Hard top boats have been in huge demand in recent years, with the market responding fiercely to this with various proposals. While this trend was started first from the Italian builders it is fair to say that is now an international affair. Criteria for the competitors was based on sixteen metres of LOA, three cabins, integrated hard top, open deck no patio door, and traditional in line shaft propulsion or pod drives.

Astondoa 53 Open - big view saloon windows, modern interior, bunk third cabin

Atlantis 54 - glass hard top, spacious cockpit, hi low bathing platform

Cayman 52 WA - walk around deck, free or sun lounger aft deck

Fashion Yachts 55 - modern inside and outside, L-shape third cabin

Gagliotta 52 - sea keeper, third bunk cabin, lower galley, saloon all up

Numarine 55 Sport - Turkish reply, 38 knots speed, third cabin bunks

Regal 52 Sport Coupe - 4 layouts, third cabin with bunks, IPS engines

Sea Ray 540 Sundancer - new model, four layouts, 2 or 3 cabins

Uniesse 54 Sport - sea keeper, sun lounger or free space aft

Windy 53 Balios - good handling, 40 knots performance

WILD CARD: Cabo 52 Express - 3 cabins, quality leader with great sea keeping
Conclusion
Since the eighties Princess have always given attention to open type Sport Cruisers, but somehow the Riviera series always left them behind versus the other British builders. Come the nineties and the integrated windshield V series Princess's manages the unthinkable becoming among the most desired for a British built Mediterranean open type sport yacht. Sitting in the middle of the current ten model V series line up, the V53 is one of the latest designs putting a great looking integrated hard top, with the usual integrity associated with the British marque. Three design solutions set the V53 apart, which are the six person dinning settee on the main deck, spacious galley for the size, and good performance with not so big engines. The Princess V53 also feels bigger to its actual size which is never a bad thing when you are on the water, and everything is seen small.
Technical Data
LOA. 16.36 metres (53.8 ft)
Length. 16.12 metres
Beam. 4.47 metres
Draft. 1.25 metres
Displacement. 22.4 t with D12-715 Volvo's
Fuel Capacity. 2210 litres
Water Capacity. 436 litres
Max Persons. 12
Accommodation. 6 + 2 berths
Engines. 2 x Volvo D12 675hp, 715hp. D12-800 775hp
Propulsion. traditional shaft drive with tunnel pockets
Speed. max 37 knots, cruise 34 knots with Volvo D12-800

Hull Shape. vee hull with eighteen degrees dead rise aft
Project. Bernard Olesinski, Princess
Construction. GRP with Isophtalic resins, balsa and PVC foam core for upper structure
Certification. CE B

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Picture Copyright Princess. Data Princess.